The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that Metro Hinesville’s unemployment rate for October was 6.1 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from 6.2 percent in September. The rate in October 2014 was 7.3 percent.

The rate declined as employers created more jobs. The number of jobs in Metro Hinesville, which the U.S. Census Bureau defines as Fort Stewart and Liberty and Long counties, increased by 100, or 0.5 percent, in October to 19,600. The job gains came mostly in the service-related industries, such as trade, transportation and warehousing.    

However, over the year, Metro Hinesville lost 300 jobs, down from 19,900 in October 2014. Most of the losses came in the service-related industries.  

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance was unchanged at 140 from September to October. Over the year, claims were down by 36, or 20.5 percent, from 176 in October 2014.     

In the Coastal Georgia region, a 10-county area that includes Liberty and Long counties, the October unemployment rate was 5.6 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from 5.7 percent in September. The rate in October 2014 was 6.8 percent.

The region’s rate declined as the number of employed residents increased by 1,153 to 292,459 from 291,306 in September. Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased by 171, or 11 percent, to 1,385 in October. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing, retail trade, transportation and warehousing. Over the year, claims were down by 192, or 12.2 percent, from 1,577 in October 2014.     

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October was 5.7 percent, down from 5.8 percent in September. It was 6.8 percent in October 2014.